Death Demands Justice

When I didn't react, Julian smiled.

"That pool is full of high-strength sulfuric acid. Given enough time, it'll corrode even the bones clean away.

"Whether your father's body stays intact depends on you."

The floor must have been slippery, because the men carrying the body simply began dragging it.

As they dragged him, an old surgical scar on Robert's lower leg was exposed.

Robert had once told me that when Vivian was little, she insisted on playing at a construction site and got trapped in a steel frame.

He had been injured saving her and needed dozens of stitches.

Later, afraid Vivian would blame herself, he lied and said he had been hurt at work.

Julian's pupils tightened. Then he pointed at the scar and said pointedly, "Vivian, Nathan's father really will do anything for money.

"It was bad enough that he used to dress like your dad. Now he even copied a scar. Who knows if it's real?"

The hesitation on Vivian's face instantly became disgust.

"My dad's scar was from dozens of real stitches. Your father's looks like it was drawn on. If he's going to fake it, he should at least do a better job.

"Nathaniel, I didn't know your father could be this disgusting. My dad used to speak so fondly of him too."

My father did not dress like her father because of imitation. My father had felt sorry for Robert's frugal life, where he couldn't even bear to buy himself decent clothes.

Every time my father bought new clothes, he would bring one set for him too.

Robert had always treated me well. He and my father were friends.

Grief rose in me. I rushed forward, wanting to stop Vivian from further destroying her father's body.

"He really is your father! That scar isn't drawn. Your father got it protecting you!"

Julian looked at Vivian with malicious eyes.

"It's unlucky for this dead old man to have a scar that resembles your father's. Why don't we just cut it off?"

Then he took the phone and issued the order.

I reached out to snatch it away.

Vivian slapped me across the face.

"Julian is doing this for me! Don't you dare bully him in front of me!"

My cheek burned.

On the other end of the video, the men cut away the flesh around Robert's old scar and threw it into the pool.

Rage twisted my face. I slapped Vivian to the ground.

"Vivian Stone! Do you have any conscience at all?"

Vivian stood up and roared back at me, refusing to back down.

"The one with no conscience is you, refusing to let Julian's brother go!

"I gave you chance after chance. You're the one who didn't appreciate it.

"Throw the body into the pool!"

Vivian glared at me with hatred, snatched the phone, and gave the order herself.

Then she shoved the image of Robert's body being thrown into the acid pool in front of my face.

Seeing me trembling with rage, she looked proud, like a victor, and walked into court with Julian.

The trial officially began.

The judge started by stating the basic facts of the case.

"The defendant, Caleb Blake, after a violent conflict with the victim, Robert Stone, over the defendant's unauthorized installation of surveillance equipment, drove into the victim and caused Robert Stone's death."

The victorious smile on Vivian's face froze.

Robert Stone was her father's name.

She shot to her feet and interrupted the judge.

"Is there a mistake in the victim's information? How could that be my father's name?"

The judge frowned and looked at her strangely.

"The victim's information has been confirmed. The victim is your father, Robert Stone."